Let’s Speculate About the Future of the Marvel Universe

Ever since yesterday, Marvel’s been talking about how the next version of their superhero universe will look a whole lot different. And a new teaser image gives a glimpse of even more changes, including a female Wolverine. Time to put on our thinking caps, true believers.

Is That Tony Stark in the Iron Man Armor?

As previously discussed, the presentation of the Iron Man seen in the Free Comic Book Day All-New, All-Different Avengers story was… coy. It might not be—as some readers think—Tony Stark in the red-and-gold suit at all.

Combined with yesterday’s teases about a new Hulk, the comments about the founding of the Avengers in the image above have folks wondering if it’s Bruce Banner wearing the Iron Man.

Members of the X-Men and Fantastic Four Are Still Around…

Despite their disappearance from merchandise and a nebulous publishing status, characters from Marvel’s First Family and mutant populations are in the newest teaser image. Maybe Marvel’s movie-rights beef with Fox won’t affect their comics output, then. But, it looks like the Thing has a Guardians of the Galaxy uniform on, doesn’t it?

Including a Woman in a Wolverine Suit

There was mention of a new Wolverine in the interviews with Marvel editor-in-chief Axel Alonso yesterday and there she is. Odds are that’s X-23—the female clone of Wolverine—in the character’s superhero togs. She’s been part of the weekly Wolverines comic that’s been happening in the aftermath of Logan’s death. But she’s also standing right next to the alt-universe Old Man Logan version of her forebear. In the latest He’s raising a baby Hulk in the Old Man Logan Secret Wars tie-in comic. Maybe that’s the new Hulk talked up by Marvel?

Why’s Daredevil Hiding His Face Again?

Matt Murdock’s secret identity is a thing of the past in the current iteration of the Daredevil comics. So why’s the Daredevil up there wearing a mask? Could be that it’s not Murdock at all, especially with the weird change to his DD insignia.

Other Characters from the Ultimate Universe Will Be Around After Secret Wars

It’s all but confirmed that Miles Morales will be making the jump from a parallel dimension to the mainline Marvel Universe after Secret Wars. A Fast Company piece notes that Alonso says that the newer Spider-Man won’t be the only one to wind up in the new reality:

Alonso says that some of those Ultimate characters will continue in the main continuity, giving Marvel “an incredible, wide array of options to spice up our universe.”

There’s a lot of other stuff in the new teaser image to wonder about, like a younger-looking Dr. Strange holding a big ol’ battle axe, Squadron Supreme characters Hyperion and Spectrum hovering in the background and Thunderbolts’ character Citizen V making an unexpected return. What do you think it all means? Sound off in the comments below.